1,000 Artists Release ‘Silent’ Album to Protest UK Copyright Changes

The U.K. government is advancing plans to promote AI initiatives by proposing amendments to copyright laws. These changes would allow developers to use artists’ content for training AI models without obtaining consent or providing payment, unless the content creators take specific actions to opt out.

In response to these proposed changes, a group of 1,000 musicians has released a unique project—a ‘silent album’ titled “Is This What We Want?” This album features collaborations from renowned artists including Kate Bush, Imogen Heap, Max Richter, and many others. The compilation is not a traditional music album; rather, it consists of recordings capturing the sound of empty studios and performance spaces. This artistic choice serves as a metaphor for the potential silence artists may face under the new copyright rules.

Each of the 12 tracks on the album sends a clear message, stating: “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.” This protest aligns with broader global discontent among artists regarding how copyright is managed in relation to AI development.

Ed Newton-Rex, who spearheaded this initiative, is also involved in a larger campaign opposing the use of creative works without proper licensing for AI training. His petition against these practices has gained significant traction, garnering over 47,000 signatures from writers, visual artists, and other creators, with nearly 10,000 of those added in just five weeks since the U.K. government outlined its AI plans.

Newton-Rex has a background in both music composition and technology. He founded Jukedeck, an AI-powered music platform aimed at enabling users to create original compositions without relying on copyrighted materials. His previous experience includes working with TikTok and other tech firms.

The silent album comes at a crucial time, just ahead of the expected copyright law alterations in the U.K. Under the new rules, artists wanting to protect their work from AI uses would need to opt out, a process that many believe will lead to widespread exploitation of their creations.

According to Newton-Rex, this situation creates significant risks for artists, as there is currently no practical method to track what specific content is used in AI training. Concerns have been raised that artists may find their work utilized by AI companies without their consent, potentially leaving them with little recourse.

As a response, some artists are considering moving their work to countries with stronger copyright protections. For instance, one of the participating musicians, Thomas Hewitt Jones, previously held protests, including an event where he threw a damaged keyboard into a harbor as a statement against the proposed laws.

Newton-Rex emphasizes the hypocrisy of the situation, noting that artists have been encouraged to share their work online for increased visibility, only for governments and AI firms to exploit that accessibility. This disillusionment has pushed some creatives to stop sharing their work altogether.

The silent album will be made available on various music platforms shortly, with any proceeds being donated to the charity Help Musicians, supporting artists affected by such industry changes.

protest, music, copyright